The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-01-28
R Z T R | B I ITO N.
BY 1.-THE DUCHESS" {"
CHAPTER L.

NhABlER j.
The coffee and toast are suffering, the
eggs and kidneys are growing cold the
butler is looking distinctly aggrieved
and Sir Thomas, lifting his head from his
well aired Times, gazes across the
table cloth, with a solcmnity even more
pronounced than usual, at his stepson,
Grant, Boyle.
"Your mother is late again this morn
ing, he says testify. "This is, indeed,
the third time this week she has been be-
hind time"
"Old age begins TO assert ITSELF" sug-
gests the younger man carelcssly.
Something in the indifference OF his
tone nettles Sir Thomas. His brow con
tracts, and he stares nngrily at the other,
betraying how very little love is lost
between them
Age has nothing to do with IT, Your
mother is not failing in any way, however
much that thought may find favor
with you! Your entrance into your
kingdom will not be yet, l hope and be-
lieve.n
This reference TO his inheritance of a
considerable estate on his mothers death
raises smile upon Boyle's lips and "a
contemptuous movement of his shoul-
ders.
~ see no disgrace in old age myself"
he says. 1T has its drawbacks, perhaps
with n look of studied insolence at Sir
Thomas-"but its privileges too He
laughs slowly. "As you see my mother
is latc-her privilege is to oversleep her
self -
your mother, sir, has not been the
same woman since the robbery of her
jewel case, month since. 1t has preyed
upon her cruelty, MS any one-who--
who'--in his odd, fuming manner
mad spark of feeling in them might
nave seen. But you are too devoted to
your racing, your cards, your town dissi-
pations, to spare thought for one of the
best women, the best mothers, who
ever''-
His Indignation is cut short in very
summary manner. The door is flung
wide, and Lady Valworth, entering, tot
tiers to the nearest arm chair and sinks
into it,
oh! Thomasl OH good heavensr'
she cries. The diamondsr'
Sir Thomas, finging down The Times,
starts to his feet, and turns to her
why the deuce can't you speak, Lu-
cinday' says he.
They are gonel--gone, I tell you!
I've searched everywhere, and they are
not to be found. This is the second rob-
bery-and where is the fault to be laid?
What on earth is to be done?' The poor
woman, growing quite hysterical, covers
her face with her hands, and sobs aloud
Your diamondsl The family da-
mondsl Bless my soull Has the world
come to an endf' cries Sir Thomas. "But
there must be some mistake Whcn"--
putting on his most magisterial air
"did you see them lasts"
1.-Two nights ago. l wore them at the
Eyers' dinner. You remember, Granit2
You came with u.s."
"Yes, | remember" says Grant,.
at is absurd. 1t is outrageous! Is
there no law in the landf" fumes Sir
Thomas Have you sent for the police
"a detective"--
"Of what use was the detective we got
down from town about my emeralds?"
asks Lady Valworth despondingly. "No;
1t is a conspiracy-a deeply rooted onen'
NONSENSE growls Sir Thomas; ''it's
burglars. Dye see your mothers con-
Germ, Granit-what do you think, eh'''
Servants, l should say" laconically.
"Oh, my dear Granitv cries his
mother. But which amongst them
would you first suspect We have had
excellent characters with them all; and
Johanna, as you know, has been with me
for twenty eight years-in fact, ever since
you were born. Her character is surely
established ~
at is the people with established
characters who invariably enrich them
selves at the expense of their employers.
In the long run, they reward themselves
for the years of correct living that they
have endured. Take my advice, and
keep your eye on Johanna"
He laughs cynically There is indeed,
what one might almost believe to be an
under current of amusement in his tone.
"This Johanna should, indeed, be well
known to YOU" breaks in Sir Thomas;
''she was your nurse, believe. She, as
/ have learned, is devtoed to you-has
given you almost mothers love"
He is gazing at the younger man with
slow scorn in his old, but yet brilliant,
eyes
"Surely all that is no reason why I
should seek to defraud justice of its
dues, says the young man, with an in
dolent uplifting of his brows. "You, as
magistrate, would surely not suggest
such course2n
"What dye mean, sir9' cries Sir
Thomas. turning upon him so fiercely
that Lady Nalworth, who has had cause
to dread collision between them, rushes
into the breach.
"Pray reserve discussion, however
amicable, until later on, she implores
eXcitedly. Il cannot listen to it now, I
am SO unstrung-so wretched. The
emeralds were bad enough; but If moth
ing comes Of the loss of these diamonds
don't believe | Shall get over it, If they
had been my own, / shouldn't so much
have cared but being yours, Sir Thomas,
and expected by your heir-T'---
She breaks down again, and subsidies
into tears and her handkerchief.
"Now | must beg you will not so allude
to this unfortunate affair" says Sir
Thomas, II strong affection underlying
the pomposty Of his manner. "I.et
nothing outside the loss itself distress
you-and, besides, there may be no loss;
all yet is mere conjecture, Recovery OF
these Jewels Gf, indeed, they are gone) is
sure.n
Positively certain, says Grant, Boyle,
with his inscrutabe smile.
I'm the meantime, as you are so un-
strung, shall recommend you a change"
says Sir Thomas, laying his hand very
kindly upon his wife's. Go to town for
month or so, to your sister, Mrs. Brand
she always does you good-and leave
me here to fight out this mystery"
But though he fights it out hardly, so
FAR as money and perseverance can go,
nothing comes of his eXertions The
family diamonds have vanished as en-
tirely, as mysteriously, as did the emer-
aids belonging to his wife a month before.
CHAPTER II.